Research, advice and support

Coroners' Courts Support Service

'Meeting an unmet need for the bereaved'

Unexpected death is always traumatic for bereaved family and friends, and yet there is no support service offered by government or the private sector for those attending inquests at Coroners' Courts in the Metropolitan area. As Annie Hamilton, trustee and director of the Coroners' Courts Support Service, explains: 'One of my partners and I had previously worked for Victim Support among other things, and we knew that the Coroners' Court was the Cinderella of courts, getting no real funding from government.'

They decided to take the initiative and open a support service themselves, in order to provide bereaved families and witnesses at inquests with practical support, such as explanation of court procedure and guidance, and emotional support via listening skills and common sense. They had looked at other agencies but found most of them either counselled people or dealt with victims of crime, neither of which was applicable to Coroners' Courts.

Having obtained agreement with Dr. Paul Knapman, H.M. Coroner for Westminster, the pilot scheme began in this court in January 2003. It soon became clear there was a need for such a service, and in November the Home Office Coroners' Unit encouraged them to expand into three more Inner London Courts. These were implemented in October 2004, with the Home Office providing financial support for a pilot year only. A grant from the Wates Foundation and private donations allowed the service to continue in the four Inner London Courts, and this year has seen the service expanding to three Outer London Courts.

The judges stated CCSS is doing 'something incredibly good and important', and said it 'goes to the very heart of civic society to tackle these needs'.

Annie Hamilton
Trustee/director
Westminster Coroners' Court
65 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2ED
020 7352 8234
Reg no: 1105899
www.coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk

East Berkshire Women's Aid

'Improving domestic violence services'

Domestic violence is a huge problem and in the East Berkshire Area alone there were 4,522 recorded incidents last year. Three years ago, the main option for support for women in East Berkshire fleeing domestic violence was to enter sub-standard refuge accommodation and endure the conditions there until they were re-housed. 'At our old accommodation', explains Becky Spiller, training and grants officer at EBWA, 'the property had been condemned as unfit for human habitation and was in a terrible state of disrepair. Women, we found, were often unlikely to stay too long due to the conditions, which often led to them returning home to the abuser.'

In addition, services had only been offered when a woman had decided to flee an abusive relationship, despite acknowledgement by many that early-intervention and preventative policies are the way forward. EBWA realised it had to transform itself from simply a hostel into a reputable, professional and respected agency.

A director was recruited from a corporate background in order to bring business acumen to the charity, and a strategic business plan was produced and put in place. An awareness plan included meetings with local authorities, police, health and education professionals and local MPs. It purchased two new purpose built refuges. A new workforce was recruited which was comprehensively trained and a hand-picked management committee was introduced.

EBWA now offers continued resettlement support, a comprehensive outreach service, allowing victims to avoid the last resort of having to enter refuge, in-house support such as the freedom programme, counselling and self-esteem programmes and a 24-hour telephone advice line. 'We have managed to reach out and support many victims of domestic violence that we would have been unable to have helped before', adds Spiller.

Becky Spiller
Training and grants officer
PO Box 1866
Slough SL1 2GP
01753 549563
Reg no: 272579

Ethical Property Foundation

'Offering property advice to charities'

Small groups are particularly at risk from the consequences of bad property decisions as they often cannot afford proper legal or other professional advice. Many charities waste large amounts of money and effort addressing property issues and enter into expensive and unnecessary obligations. Consequently, in its work providing subsidised office accommodation to charities, the Foundation's sister organisation the Ethical Property Company was finding that it received many requests for property advice from charities.

The Ethical Property Foundation was therefore set up in 2003 to look at meeting these needs. 'People who work for charities are generally employed for their skills in relation to the charity, rather than their ability to manage an office move', says Jo Taylor, director of the Ethical Property Foundation. 'We wanted to take away the worry from them and allow them to concentrate on what they're good at.'

Its first director was appointed in June 2005 in order to develop a charity-focused property advice service, with the specific needs of the sector established through conversations with charities, second tier organisations, funders and property professionals. As such, the decision was taken to have; a website detailing the practical aspects of leasing and managing property (www.ethicalproperty.org.uk/advice.php); a property adviser to liaise directly with charities; property healthchecks to review an organisation's lease, property management practices or financial performance of their property asset; and a Register of Property Professionals including solicitors, surveyors, space planners and relocation consultants willing to work for charities for free or at a reduced cost.

Launched in April 2006, the first year of the advice service saw the Foundation directly assist 155 charities, provide information via its website to 405 charities and lever pro bono or discounted input from property professionals for 34 charities. It recruited 30 property professionals to its Register, and delivered 20 property healthchecks. Its success has led to a '120,000 grant from the Esme Fairbairn Foundation to extend the service to Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Jo Taylor
Director
Development House
56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4JX
Reg no: 1101812
www.ethicalproperty.org.uk

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